Harvesting rainwater has an effect downstream

by DP Opinion on February 19, 2009

Re: “Water bills back saving on rainy days,” Feb. 10 news story.

The Colorado General Assembly is considering two pieces of legislation that would allow homeowners to install systems to capture rainwater for residential uses. Harvesting rainwater off the roof can be an eco-friendly practice, reducing the need to deliver water to the home from other sources, a process which can damage streams and aquifers and require use of significant energy.

But Coloradans should recognize that, in some cases, precipitation captured in a cistern would otherwise seep through the ground to a nearby stream for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat and senior water rights. A large residential development with home rainwater cisterns might appear “green,” but could actually further stress an already depleted stream.

Recognizing the impact rainwater cisterns can have on streams, House Bill 1129 requires the proponents of rainwater harvesting projects to replace the water they remove from the system. In this respect, the bill provides a measure of protection to other water users and the state’s streams. The bill also favors cistern projects that include other water conservation measures, a smart provision in a semi-arid state with growing water demands.

Drew Peternell, Boulder

The writer is director of Trout Unlimited’s Colorado Water Project.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2009/02/19/harvesting-rainwater-has-an-effect-downstream/

Drilling on Colo. refuge delayed until August

From MSNBC.com

Lexam acquired the mineral rights in the 1990s in what was then the 97,000-acre Baca Ranch. The land was later acquired by the federal government to preserve the terrain and geological features responsible for the sand dunes. Some of the land became part of the national park, with the rest becoming the refuge in 2004.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29241551/

Fountain Creek restoration must please all players — including trout

By J. ADRIAN STANLEY - Colorado Springs Independent

Because CDOT is contributing funds, state law says the Colorado Division of Wildlife must review the plan and ensure the animal environment isn't damaged. So far, the wildlife folks aren't pleased. Neither is Jack Hunter, president of the Cheyenne Mountain chapter of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and creating trout habitat. He says the partners ignored his organization's tips on improving the environment for fish.

Read the story:

Rites of spring: Arrival lauded

Initial hatch a sign of things to come

By Charlie Meyers The Denver Post

As with many treasured objects, the smallest often are the most precious. So it is with early insects.

http://www.denverpost.com/huntfish/ci_11674543

Feds pare Colo. gas-lease sale

67,000 acres nixed

By Mark Jaffe The Denver Post

Among the areas of concern were 16 parcels identified by the wildlife division as nesting sites of sage grouse or grouse-production areas. Trout Unlimited also protested the sale of 60,000 acres of prime cutthroat-trout habitat.

Read the full story

A Dry Look at Dry Gulch

Pagosa Daily Post

Bill Hudson | 2/9/09

The SJWCD asked Archuleta County voters in 2004 to approve a bond to help fund the proposed Dry Gulch Reservoir, but the voters turned down the offer.  Nevertheless, SJWCD and PAWSD continued to study and plan for the new reservoir — including making an application for significant new water rights out of the nearby San Juan River for the purpose of filling the future reservoir, since Dry Gulch — as one might expect from its name — has very little water of its own.  Those water rights were granted in 2006, but the case was appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, which remanded the case back to Durango Water Court Judge Greg Lyman for additional study.

http://www.pagosadailypost.com/news/11234/A_Dry_Look_at_Dry_Gulch/

US lawmakers want ‘fracking’ chemicals revealed

Water Technology Online - Thursday, February 05, 2009

Geologist Geoffrey Thyne of the University of Wyoming, whose analysis of the large gas fields around Divide Creek found elevated methane and chloride levels in groundwater samples, said in the article, “They are injecting fluid that may or may not be hazardous into thousands of wells and not recovering all of it. We have to ask, what is in those fluids and where does the fluid go?”

http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=71367

8 Reasons Why You As A New To Fly Fisherman Should Join A Club

http://flyfishing.sitesbyixl.com/?p=555 Guess which one we recommend...

Corps of Engineers study will delay NISP

Bill Jackson / Greeley Tribune “We will revise key portions of the original draft and conduct additional study in categories such as hydrology modeling, water quality, vegetation and aquatic resources. This next stage will also give us the opportunity to encourage public participation, which is an extremely important part of this process,” Press said in the press release.

Read the article

Pipeline developer says project being hijacked by water group

By CHRIS WOODKATHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Rod Kuharich, executive director of the South Metro group, refused to comment on Million’s charge, saying there could be a lawsuit in the future. The group is exploring the possibility of a Colorado-Wyoming coalition, and has had a few stormy meetings with Million.

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/02/05/news/local/doc498aa233dfde2753707056.txt